Chapter 185 — Buying Loyalty

"I'm wondering whether it's really worth it to hand over that much money," Zhong Yongliang said.

"Son, when you're out in the world, loyalty is what counts," Zhong Fabai said with a smile, talking sense into his son. "Take Zhang Naipao. He's your underling. When he's in trouble, you're his boss, so you can't just look the other way. But the key is, what kind of man is this underling of yours? Will he go through fire and water for you? When you need him someday, will he step forward?"

"Dad, I can vouch for that. Zhang Naipao may be a little dumb, but he's absolutely loyal. If I help him this time, then later, whenever I need him for anything, even if it costs him his life, he'll do it without a second thought," Zhong Yongliang said.

"Well, there you go," Zhong Fabai said with a laugh. "When I was young, I helped one of my men too. I helped him just for the sake of it, with no thought of ever using him. But years later, when my shoddy construction project blew up, that man stepped forward on his own to take the fall for me... So, Yongliang, you have to judge people right. If this Zhang Naipao is really a man you can use, I'll give him the money."

"Dad, I'm not doing any construction projects... I don't need anyone to take the blame for me..." Zhong Yongliang still felt reluctant. After all, that was seven hundred thousand.

"What do you mean you don't? I cleaned up that mess with Black Panther for you this time. If he had ratted you out, you'd be locked up just the same. With Zhang Naipao around, you could pin it all on him, say he was the mastermind and you were just talked into it, couldn't you?" Zhong Fabai said. "Of course, taking the fall is only one part of it. There are dangerous jobs you can't handle yourself, like getting rid of someone, that you can have him do. So if there's nothing wrong with this man, seven hundred thousand is worth it."

"Dad, I get it now. I'll tell him in a little while." Hearing his father's words, Zhong Yongliang felt it really was the truth. If he ever got into trouble in the future, or had something he couldn't do himself, he could have Zhang Naipao do it. It was like keeping a card up his sleeve.

"Go on, Yongliang. You're grown up now. It's time to build up your own men and trusted followers," Zhong Fabai said. "It will be of great use to you when you make your way in society later."

Zhong Yongliang agreed again and again. After hanging up on his father, he dialed Zhang Naipao's cell phone right away.

Zhang Naipao was in the classroom and did not dare answer his phone casually, but when he saw it was Zhong Yongliang calling, he quickly stood up and ran out of the classroom. Glancing left and right, he saw Zhong Yongliang waving to him from the bathroom doorway and hurried over. "Brother Liang, you wanted me..."

"Paozi, about your trouble, I talked to my dad about it..." Zhong Yongliang said, deliberately keeping him in suspense and pausing there.

"Brother Liang, how did it go? What did Uncle Zhong say?" Zhang Naipao's heart churned with excitement and dread, his face changing color as he stared anxiously at Zhong Yongliang, waiting for the final answer.

"My dad said you're my brother, so he'll put up the money," Zhong Yongliang said, patting Zhang Naipao on the shoulder. "After school, come with me to my dad's company to get it."

"Really? Brother Liang?" Zhang Naipao looked at Zhong Yongliang in disbelief. "Brother Liang, you're really willing to lend me seven hundred thousand?"

"It's not a loan, it's yours to keep," Zhong Yongliang said. He knew Zhang Naipao could never pay back that much, and his family would not miss seven hundred thousand, so following his father's idea, he might as well use the money to buy loyalty. "You're my little brother. When you're in trouble, how could I just stand by?"

"Brother Liang, you truly are my boss," Zhang Naipao said, overwhelmed with excitement at Zhong Yongliang's words, dropping to his knees with a thud. "Brother Liang, I'm not an ungrateful man, I swear. From now on, if you tell me to hang myself, I'll never drown myself instead. If you tell me to go east, I'll cut off my own head and throw it east, and I'll never go west."

"Heh," Zhong Yongliang said with a laugh as he helped Zhang Naipao to his feet. "It's a little early to say all that. I know what kind of man you are, Zhang Naipao, but whether you'll hold up at the critical moment, we'll have to wait and see."

"Brother Liang, I swear to heaven, if you don't believe me, I'll bash my head in and die right now," Zhang Naipao said anxiously.

"That's not what I meant. All right, Naipao, I understand how you feel, okay? Come on, let's get back to the classroom. When I need you in the future, just don't turn me down." Zhong Yongliang nodded with satisfaction. It looked like Zhang Naipao was won over, and he would have another way out from now on...

Kang Xiaobo had spent all of last night thinking about going to Tang Yun's house for barbecue, and he had not slept a wink.

As the saying goes, what maiden does not dream of love, and what youth is not tender-hearted?

In this age full of sunshine, innocence, dreams for the future, and a naive longing for love, Kang Xiaobo also hoped he might meet a beautiful girl and begin a beautiful romance with her.

He knew perfectly well Tang Yun could never like him, but Kang Xiaobo was still thrilled. Having dinner at the school beauty's house, even if nothing happened, was still something to brag about.

"Boss, are we going Saturday or Sunday?" Kang Xiaobo asked impatiently.

"I don't know," Wei Zhao said with a shrug. "Why are you so eager?"

"Heh... The school beauty is treating us, and you're the only one who doesn't care," Kang Xiaobo said. "So many guys would kill for a way to get close to the school beauty. You get a chance to be alone with her, and you're not excited?"

Wei Zhao was speechless. Like hell I'm excited, he thought. He had two school beauties at home... But he could not say that to Kang Xiaobo. "Sort of excited, I guess. She seems to really dislike me."

"Boss, count your blessings. Anyone else wouldn't even get the chance to be disliked by Tang Yun. She barely talks to people," Kang Xiaobo said.

"Heh... Then let's ask her at lunch break," Wei Zhao said. He was thinking about buying concert DVDs for Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu and had been worried about having no one to go with. This time he could drag Kang Xiaobo along.

"Great, great," Kang Xiaobo nodded eagerly. "We'll go together, and grab some barbecue on the way..."

"Skip the barbecue. If we eat there now, Tang Yun's mother definitely won't take our money," Wei Zhao said. "You wouldn't want to make her spend money on us twice, would you?"

"That's true," Kang Xiaobo said. He knew about Tang Yun's family situation. Even a simple meal would cost thirty or forty, and making her mother spend that was a bit embarrassing. "But I still feel like having some?"